Steel Birds

On my way to Florida, I had to fly alone. I have an irrational fear of flying. Like many people, I'm not a fan of heights, small spaces or lack of control. So I asked my brother for advice. He has travelled all over the world and gone on a number of dangerous adventures that I would never dream of risking (such as a vespa ride to Mexico and moving to Egypt during a wave of terrorist attacks). Well, here is what he told me.

"I am terrified of flying. I have recurring nightmares about dying in a plane crash. But I would never let that control me. If something scares me, that makes me want to do it all that much more."

This is kind of the mission of this blog. If something scares me, I'm chasing it down the rabbit hole. And I'll take the readers along for the ride, offering up the things I've learned through my travels and experiences. In this first entry, I will share everything I have used to conquer my fear of flying, including things I employed on this last flight.

How to ride the Great Leonopteryx:

1. Lorazepam - This is the easy way out for those who don't fly very often or might need a safety net in case of a panic attack. Ask your doctor to prescribe just a few pills for your travels and you'll be blissfully apathetic as you hit turbulence.

2. Rock music - The perfect time to listen to angry music is during an adrenalin rush. Sometimes I start head-banging during turbulence. You might think it would freak out the person next to you, but usually they start laughing, which makes everybody happier.

3. Crosswords - They make me feel inadequate and I hate them, but frustration is a great distraction from paralyzing anxiety. I can't read or watch movies on planes like other people, but I can do crosswords.

4. Don't tell people you are afraid of flying - Seriously, they ALWAYS start talking about plane crashes. Obviously, that's not what you want to think about, but I swear, every time I've ever told people, they start talking about this one time their plane caught on fire or the fact that their cousin's ex-boyfriend's sister was in a plane that flew into a mountain. I even had a guy start talking about 9/11 one time.

5. Exercise positive thoughts - Envision yourself arriving safely, even if you are simultaneously hyperventilating, doing this is building strength of mind and your panic will become less and less severe.

6. Other things - bug the flight attendants for water and snacks, draw silly pictures, make faces at babies, watch a small item rest gently in your palm and know that if it isn't floating, the plane isn't going down and there is nothing to worry about.

I use the Avatar example of riding the Great Leonopteryx, because every flight I take is equally terrifying and exhilarating to me as becoming a Toruk Makto ("Rider of the Last Shadow"). That is the massive predatory flying beast that is revered and feared by the Navi, and to ride one is to become a legend. Nothing ever happens for people who hide under their beds. Taking chances and laughing in the face of death is what makes life worth living, and knowing that is the first step to leading an adventurous life.

I would be interested to know how others deal with air anxiety. Please share what works for you in the comments feed!